| Campaign compiles a new 'Move and win roundup' as each week
progresses. This edition will cover April 6 through April 10, 2026. Catch up on past people moves and business wins. |
Stagwell has appointed Lena Petersen, with 30+ years in marketing, media, and storytelling from Sugar23 and MediaLink, as its global chief brand and communications officer, reporting to CEO Mark Penn. She'll lead brand identity, executive visibility, and communications to sharpen Stagwell's positioning amid AI-driven growth, succeeding Beth Sidhu who moves to CEO of Sport Beach.
Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority has appointed independent agency Uniform as its social media agency of record following an open tender in Q4 2025. The two-year contract, with an option to extend for another year, covers social media strategy, content management, reporting and public engagement across URA's channels.
Eastwest PR has been appointed by Meta as its PR agency in Singapore on a one-year contract covering strategic communications, media relations and issues management. Darryn Lim has been appointed as Meta's communications lead for Singapore. He will oversee the development and execution of integrated communications strategies across product, business, policy and consumer initiatives.
PUB, Singapore's national water agency, has appointed IPG DXTRA as its social media agency of record on a two-year contract, with an option to extend for a third year. The agency will handle social media strategy, content development and community management across PUB's Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads and YouTube channels, with a focus on public education around water sustainability and climate resilience.
Foodpanda Malaysia has appointed Kenneth Soh as managing director, effective January 2026. He joins from PropertyGuru Group, where he spent nearly two years as country manager for Malaysia. Before that, he was at Shopee Malaysia for close to five years, rising to country director for marketing, growth and communications, overseeing campaigns, e-commerce, digital marketing, brand communications and government relations. He first joined Shopee in 2019 as head of ShopeeMall. He announced the move on LinkedIn.
CHAGEE has appointed Evelyn Tay, ex-VP of communications, public affairs, and sustainability at foodpanda APAC, as senior director of communications and public affairs to drive its brand narrative. With 20+ years in comms (including Tesla HK and Uber APAC), Tay focuses on sharing stories about CHAGEE’s agriculture ecosystem, baristas, and customers, reuniting with ex-foodpanda colleagues like Katrina Khoe and Lawrence Wen. She returns post-sabbatical and consulting, calling the move a "no-brainer."
Omnicom Oceania has appointed Kim Hamilton as chief marketing and communications officer (promoted from her media Australia role) and Paige Prettyman as chief of staff (new role, ex-Deloitte Digital MD) to drive transformation and client delivery. Hamilton will lead regional brand, comms, and partnerships, while Prettyman ensures executive alignment.
Strategic insight consultancy Palladium Insight is accelerating its APAC expansion with two senior hires: Ian Bellerby as head of brand tracking & comms (its first senior Australian presence) and Josh Thomas-Goodey as director, both effective immediately. Founding Partner Richard Hall said the moves strengthen leadership to scale in ANZ amid growing client demand. Bellerby (ex-Fiftyfive5) will lead tracking and Australian growth, while Thomas-Goodey (20+ years in qual/quant) boosts qualitative capabilities and government sector work.
Uber has appointed Arjun Kalra as head of marketing for India & South Asia, where he'll lead brand strategy, consumer engagement, and growth initiatives while serving on both APAC Marketing and INSA leadership teams. Previously Kalra served as head of demand generation and partner marketing at Apple.
AKQA has appointed Toshihide Otsuka as managing director in Japan. Former ITOCHU SVP and ICT/Financial GM, Otsuka joins to lead growth following the 2025 expansion of AKQA's five-year partnership with ITOCHU, which boosts services in creativity, design, production, and emerging tech across the region. With nearly 30 years in media, tech, and business development, Otsuka succeeds Teppei Tsuchikawa (returning to ITOCHU) and will focus on client outcomes, studio expansion, and navigating rapid change.
DoorDash has appointed former Airbnb APAC marketing lead Nick Sinclair as its ANZ marketing director, the most senior local marketing role overseeing strategy and execution for consumers, merchants, Dashers, and ecosystem growth (restaurants, grocery, retail, DashPass). With 20+ years across US, APAC, and ANZ, including scaling Airbnb's brand, Sinclair aims to build a locally grounded, creatively ambitious brand to drive momentum and neighborhood ties. He reports to DoorDash's global CMO and started in February 2026.
Ward Marketing Group has appointed former Edelman APAC Health Chair Will Collie to launch The Advisory Ward, a new strategic communications advisory firm targeting pharmaceutical, biotech, consumer wellness, and healthcare clients navigating complex reputational and regulatory challenges. Created with Group CEO Stuart Black, it complements the group's agencies (Ward6, Ward7, The Engagement Ward, 66South) amid rising demand for senior-level comms counsel.
Pet Circle has appointed ex-Uber APAC CMO Andy Morley as its first chief customer officer following a four-month career break after leaving Uber late last year. Concurrently, VP of brand and creative Ella Lymbereas expands into VP of marketing, overseeing brand, ecommerce, trade, and media. CEO Alistair Venn said the duo embodies the fusion of customer passion and marketing excellence to lead digital innovation in the sector
Curious Nation, a brand activation agency, has hired Christina Crawford as senior producer in New Zealand and Anna Smith as account manager in Sydney to fuel its trans-Tasman growth amid rising demand. Crawford brings 20+ years of experience delivering high-profile events for clients like New Zealand Rugby and SKYCITY, while Smith joins from UK agency EventLive to support major Australian projects.
DirectAsia Insurance and Budget Direct Insurance have named Ronnie Brown as chief growth officer, focused on marketing, sales and distribution across both brands. He has held several roles at DirectAsia since first joining in 2015 as chief digital officer. He returned in 2020 as chief marketing and distribution officer, then took on the Singapore general manager role in 2024, running the local business across sales, marketing, customer service and claims. He concurrently served as group chief technology officer from 2023, leading a 12-person tech team across Singapore and Thailand. He announced the role on LinkedIn.
Leverate Group has appointed Din Sumedi as chief creative officer. He oversees creative across the agency's strategy, media and technology divisions. He joins from Fortuna, where he served as CCO since January 2024, working with clients including Gudang Garam International. Before that, he was CCO at Indonesian independent &Friends from 2021 to 2024. His earlier career includes CCO stints at VMLY&R Indonesia and Lowe and Partners Indonesia from 2008 to 2014, and Ogilvy from 2007 to 2014.
Burda Media has sold BurdaLuxury, its Southeast Asia media business, to Singapore-based venture capital platform Jaipur Capital. The acquisition covers Burda's operations in Thailand, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, including all staff and the management team. BurdaLuxury's portfolio includes print titles Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau, Augustman, HELLO! Thailand, Prestige, PIN Prestige and Travel + Leisure India & South Asia. Jaipur Capital, which already has positions in travel, luxury and aviation content, said it plans to expand the titles into Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and the Middle East.
Coast Entertainment has appointed Samantha Saunders as chief marketing officer and Luke Ingles as chief strategy officer. Saunders brings more than two decades of experience in customer, brand and marketing leadership. She will oversee brand and marketing strategy across the Coast Entertainment portfolio, which includes Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and SkyPoint. Ingles joins from a background as a partner at Barclay Consulting and EY. He announced the role on LinkedIn.
Omnicom Advertising India has appointed Rohan Mehta as chief transformation officer. He reports to Aditya Kanthy, president and managing director of Omnicom Advertising India. He previously founded Kinnect, India's largest digital-first creative agency, in 2011. In his new position, Mehta's mandate is to build a capability framework across the Omnicom Advertising India network, which includes Kinnect, BBDO, 22feet Tribal, TBWA\Lintas, McCann, Ulka and Mudra. He will oversee integrated capabilities including digital media, influencer marketing, CRM, SEO/GEO, ORM and emerging formats. He was named to Campaign's 40 Under 40 list in 2021. He announced the role on LinkedIn.
Havas Group ANZ has elevated Dan King to managing director. He joined the agency in 2019 and has spent seven years working across Australian and global clients on commercial and communications programmes for medical, pharmaceutical and life science businesses. He will lead Bastion Brands' Melbourne and Sydney offices. He steps up as founder Simon Davies prepares to exit the Australian business at the end of June, 14 years after launching the agency in 2012.
Source: Campaign Asia-Pacific
